Exclusive | Record-seeking Queens hoops coach was nearly benched in ugly legal battle over alleged recruiting breaches
This is a lot of court drama — even for a team called the Judges.A legendary Queens high school basketball coach has gotten caught up in a legal battle with the city over alleged recruiting violations — which led to his suspension as he was just a few victories away from becoming the winningest hoops coach in New York City history.Coach Ron Naclerio, 68, went to court in December to win his right to continue leading the Benjamin N.Cardozo High School Judges — so named in honor of the school famous jurist namesake — and continue on his quest to top the current city coaching wins record of 972.
He is just 2 wins away from tying it.The scrappy Bayside native’s bid for history was briefly derailed last month, when city investigators accused him of improperly recruiting students from other schools to join his team, according to court records reviewed by The Post.The allegations against Naclerio, who has coached at Cardozo for 51 years, led to his suspension on Dec.3.The Judge’s coach then went before a real-life jurist in Queens state court, and secured a restraining order allowing him to rejoin the team as the case raged on.
When the coach texted Cardozo principal Meagan Colby on the morning of the game to report what he called the “good news” of the ruling, Colby replied that she was not yet aware of it.Naclerio then responded with a copy of the court order, adding: “My understanding is that a violation of a court order by you or any other official would have serious consequences, so I trust you will abide by its explicit terms and seek your own legal advice.”Despite the legal win, the saga took an ugly turn during a Dec.6 away game at John Bowne High School in Kew Gardens Hills, when school security guards escorted Naclerio out of the gym in full view of both teams, parents and fans, court papers reveal.The veteran coach — known for pacing up and down the sidelines in an orange polo and blue pants — was “surrounded” by security after ar...